Sichuan Airlines serves its first Australian destination from Chengdu

Sichuan Airlines’ Chengdu to Melbourne

Premier of Victoria, Ted Baillieu (pictured third left) welcomed China’s Sichuan Airlines on its inaugural flight from Chengdu to Melbourne: “I am delighted Sichuan Airlines has chosen Melbourne for its first direct service to Australia, with Melbourne its second long haul international destination after Vancouver. Their presence is symbolic of the strengthening relationship between Sichuan Province and Victoria.”

Sichuan Airlines started flying on the 8,700-kilometre route from its Chengdu (CTU) hub to Melbourne (MEL), making the latter its first Australian destination. Thrice-weekly services are operated with A330-300s. Sichuan Airlines offers flights to five other international destinations from Chengdu – Malé, Phuket, Seoul Incheon, Taichung, Taipei Song Shan – and to Hong Kong.